The NFL season is heating up after six weeks, and former Clemson Tigers are continuing to establish themselves as premier playmakers throughout the league. Below are three standout alumni performances from Weeks 5 and 6:
Tee Higgins, Wide Receiver | Cincinnati Bengals
After missing the first two weeks of the season due to a hamstring injury followed by two subpar showings in Weeks 3 and 4, it looks like Higgins finally hit his stride.
In an overtime thriller versus the Baltimore Ravens, the fifth-year receiver found the end zone for the first time this season, not once but twice. He hauled in nine receptions for 83 yards and racked up 14 targets, just one target shy of his career-high.
Higgins continued to excel in Week 6 against the New York Giants, leading the Cincinnati receiving corps with 77 yards — 24 of which came from his longest reception of the season — and a perfect seven receptions on seven targets.
Dexter Lawrence II, Defensive Tackle | New York Giants
All season long, Dexter Lawrence II has proven why he came in at No. 24 on the 2024 NFL Top 100 players list. Weeks 5 and 6 were no exception.
Against the Seattle Seahawks, Lawrence finished with a career-high three total sacks for -28 yards, including one sack on fourth-and-three with 17 seconds left to secure the win for the Giants. Lawrence notched one more sack against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6, bringing his season total to seven.
Going into Week 6, Lawrence was receiving double-team blocks at a rate of 65.3%, the third highest in the league among interior defensive linemen, according to PFF. Despite this, Lawrence currently remains tied for second for total sacks among all defensive players.
Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback | Jacksonville Jaguars
In Week 5, Lawrence and the Jaguars bounced back from an 0-4 start with a marginal win over the Indianapolis Colts. Lawrence’s performance indicated significant improvement as he tallied 371 yards and two touchdowns while completing 82% of his passes.
In the second quarter, Lawrence’s 85-yard strike to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. inspired nostalgia among Clemson fans, as it resembled his 65-yard touchdown pass to Cornell Powell against Virginia Tech in 2020.
In a Week 6 matchup between two former No. 1 overall picks as Lawrence and the Jaguars took on Caleb Williams and the Bears, the Jaguars were unable to get the job done in the first of two back-to-back London games. The Jaguars fell to the Bears, 35-16.
Despite the loss, Lawrence played well, completing 23 of 35 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns.
